Just got a kick in the gut- finding out I may leave 45 days earlier than originally planned.
Don't know how much longer I'll be around, the sentiments are appreciated!
just curious kirk, from your perspective, and from anyone in the line of fire, does who resides at 1600 penn ave. give you more or less hope your tour will be a reasonably short one?
just curious kirk, from your perspective, and from anyone in the line of fire, does who resides at 1600 penn ave. give you more or less hope your tour will be a reasonably short one?
again, godspeed
It needs to take as long as necessary so as not to make the ultimate sacrifices made by those already ones made in vain.
I'll happily do multiple tours there if it means that Iraq has viable government and democracy, and no longer becomes a state sponsor of terror.
The terrorist/cowards over there will continue to kidnap people and cut their heads off on camera so as to weaken our resolve. Its sad, but the worst thing anyone can do is to enable that barbaric behavior by giving in to their demands. These guys are bad- and they've been doing it to their own people for years. We can't let them slither their way back into the picture there- Iraq is capable of a lot more.
Wow, I wasn't going to write anything till it got abit closer... but 45 days is a big jump.
Kirk, you seem like an really classy guy. I cannot wait to hear a post from you stating your safe return. I have friends (Euro's and Canucks) who are buying into the anti-American movement...and I have to tell you that it is people like you who make me defend America till I am red -white and blue- in the face.
I know it is a nice thing to say that you are in my prayers... but when I say it I want you to know that I will actually be praying for you. I have a few other friends serving in Iraq (there is an officer who is a very close friend of mine who will be looking out for your name)... so maybe you can convert them into hockey-fans cause I've given up hope...
Again, in case I don't get to say it before you leave. Take care... stay safe-you have an amazing little daughter who needs her hero back home.(and I need a fellow Versteeg fan )
remember, when you get back to Mass, give me a buzz and we'll hit a B's game and the Fours for a great night of hockey, talk about the Patriots and Red Sox both winning Championships in the same year and how Lars Jonsson looks like a future allstar.
It needs to take as long as necessary so as not to make the ultimate sacrifices made by those already ones made in vain.
I'll happily do multiple tours there if it means that Iraq has viable government and democracy, and no longer becomes a state sponsor of terror.
The terrorist/cowards over there will continue to kidnap people and cut their heads off on camera so as to weaken our resolve. Its sad, but the worst thing anyone can do is to enable that barbaric behavior by giving in to their demands. These guys are bad- and they've been doing it to their own people for years. We can't let them slither their way back into the picture there- Iraq is capable of a lot more.
A good friend of mine, CPT Sean P. Sims, was killed in action in the Fallujah fight.
Here is a link to what happened. I post it so that you all can know that bad things happen to good people in war. He took care of his Soldiers and died doing something he believed in. How his troops reacted to his passing is the testament of his leadership and competence. RIP, Sean.
A good friend of mine, CPT Sean P. Sims, was killed in action in the Fallujah fight.
Here is a link to what happened. I post it so that you all can know that bad things happen to good people in war. He took care of his Soldiers and died doing something he believed in. How his troops reacted to his passing is the testament of his leadership and competence. RIP, Sean.
I appreciate everything these men are doing over there Kirk...My heart goes out to your friends family...My wife and I are helping out by buying things Like Toothpaste, powder gatorade and other things and taking them to a place that sends them to the soldiers...Blood has always kept are nation free...Thanks Kirk and may you come back safely...When exactly are you going my friend...?
Every Friday morning, our school sends out 2-4 boxes of letters to different soldiers. Some of them are folks we know personally...others we dont have any idea who they are, but most appreciate hearing from somebody.
The stories you hear day after day are heartwrenching, as well as maddening. My sister in law has a nephew in Iraq right now and he has been wounded twice now...once, in the thigh, during a confrontation. And in the other, schrapnel ripped his left arm and leg all to heck while they were being transported in a poorly conditioned vehicle.
He was one of the first to go over, once we decided once and for all that we were going in. He has been home once, this past summer, for 7 days. He`s very ixcited because in 9 or so months he is going on R&R to Kuwait. The outfit he is with isnt being allowed to come back stateside for a long time.
This may be the wrong place to voice this stuff...but I just wanted to vent about it. Like Kirk said, bad things happen to good people in time of war. Its a shame that these guys dont have the proper equipment. They are asked to go into buidings at night without the proper night vision equipment and all this stuff. Danny was telling his aunt that his buddies are recieving care packages with night visison goggles that their PARENTS are sending them, because thy are not being outfitted properly by the military itself.
I thought that was nuts, but I recently heard the same thing on a 60 Minutes interview with the Oregon National Guard commander. He said he knows for a fact that parents and friends of troops under his command have sent night vision goggles, flak vests and....get this....BULLETS!
I am just so frustrated that families can loose children because of being ill-prepared.
That is not right. In no way should that ever be a possibility!
A good friend of mine, CPT Sean P. Sims, was killed in action in the Fallujah fight.
Here is a link to what happened. I post it so that you all can know that bad things happen to good people in war. He took care of his Soldiers and died doing something he believed in. How his troops reacted to his passing is the testament of his leadership and competence. RIP, Sean.
I follow the war every day and read that story when it broke. Very sad indeed, and a testament to the sacrifice the men in uniform make for our freedoms. Your heart goes out the families of these guys, and to all those soldiers who are injured in battle. May our strength be with them.
We had or 12-mile 'Fit to Fight' ruckmarch- full combat equipment to include IBA (individual body armor- 20 pounds), kevlar, rifle, and 40-pound rucksack (backpack). The standard was 4 hours or less- and I did it in 2:01:15.
Little disappointed that I didn't get in under under 2 hours given how close I got, but not too shabby for a short, fat tanker whose motto before joining the 3d Infantry was "Death before dismount." The looks on the faces of some of the infantrymen that I beat was priceless...they couldn't believe it when I blew by them and then continued my pace all the way to the end.
These guys have me in the best shape of my life. The best mechanized unit I have ever been in...bar none.
Last edited by Kirk- NEHJ: 11-22-2004 at 08:47 AM.
We had or 12-mile 'Fit to Fight' ruckmarch- full combat equipment to include IBA (individual body armor- 20 pounds), kevlar, rifle, and 40-pound rucksack (backpack). The standard was 4 hours or less- and I did it in 2:01:15.
Little disappointed that I didn't get in under under 2 hours given how close I got, but not too shabby for a short, fat tanker whose motto before joining the 3d Infantry was "Death before dismount." The looks on the faces of some of the infantrymen that I beat was priceless...they couldn't believe it when I blew by them and then continued my pace all the way to the end.
These guys have me in the best shape of my life. The best mechanized unit I have ever been in...bar none.
SO you mean you WEREN'T driving the tank while the infantry ran? :lol
SO you mean you WEREN'T driving the tank while the infantry ran? :lol
I'm kidding
When I hit mile 8, I was wishing I was on a tank...my dogs were barking!
That's really where you start to hit the wall. Miles 1-6, you're getting into your rhythm and at the halfway mark, you have an idea what your time will be. But around mile 8-10, you start sucking- just want the dang thing to be over. Last 2 miles you pick it up again and charge into the straightaway.
I've also been hitting the gym like a fiend lately and getting good results.
Life is good- and with less than 60 days before we go wheels up, time is definitely flying by.
We had or 12-mile 'Fit to Fight' ruckmarch- full combat equipment to include IBA (individual body armor- 20 pounds), kevlar, rifle, and 40-pound rucksack (backpack). The standard was 4 hours or less- and I did it in 2:01:15.
Little disappointed that I didn't get in under under 2 hours given how close I got, but not too shabby for a short, fat tanker whose motto before joining the 3d Infantry was "Death before dismount." The looks on the faces of some of the infantrymen that I beat was priceless...they couldn't believe it when I blew by them and then continued my pace all the way to the end.
These guys have me in the best shape of my life. The best mechanized unit I have ever been in...bar none.
Goalies are always the best conditioned players on the team......
)
